An arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to look inside a joint to diagnose and treat problems. The term arthroscopy comes from two Greek words: arthro (meaning joint) and skopien (meaning to look).
This article on arthroscopy is written by Jackie Griffiths, a freelance journalist who writes health, medical, biological, and pharmaceutical articles for national and international journals, newsletters and web sites
Joint problems can often be diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray. However, sometimes these are not clear enough to provide a full diagnosis, particularly when the damage involves soft tissues around a bone. Therefore an arthroscopy may eventually be used to investigate the following complaints in a joint:
- pain, swelling, or inflammation
- a tear in the joint
- a tear in the ligament
- a loose piece of bone
- unsteadiness or instability (knee ‘giving way’)
- arthritis
As well as evaluation, an arthroscopy can also be used to treat a range of orthopaedic conditions in place of traditional surgery. These include inflammation and acute or chronic injuries such as:
Shoulder – rotator cuff tendon tears, impingement syndrome, and recurrent dislocations.
Knee – cartilage tears, and wearing or injury of cartilage cushion (chondromalacia)
Wrist – carpal tunnel syndrome.
Any joint – loose bodies of bone or cartilage in the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, ankle, and hip.
Arthroscopic (also known as endoscopic) spinal procedures also enable surgeons to treat a range of spinal conditions, such as bulging discs, deformities, and tumours – with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues. This averts the need to access mid-spine conditions through the rib cage.
The Procedure
An arthroscopy can be conducted under local or general anaesthetic, and may take over an hour if there is a lot of work to be done. An anti-bacterial fluid is used to first clean the skin over the affected joint. The surgeon then makes a small incision and inserts a narrow tube with a tiny fibre-optic camera attached, known as an arthroscope. A small light and a lens on the end illuminates and magnifies the joint so the surgeon has a clear view of any problems or damage.
If treatment is also being given, a second incision is made to insert the surgical instruments. Damaged areas are repaired and unwanted tissue, bone, or cartilage is removed. Sometimes a fluid is used to wash out the joint, particularly in cases of arthritis - which can relieve painful symptoms for several months.
Once the arthroscopy procedure is complete, all fluid is drained from the joint and the incisions are closed with stitches or tape. A sterile dressing and bandage may also be applied. If there is likely to be much bleeding or fluid weeping, drains may be attached for a few hours to make sure all extra fluids leave the knee.
